Fact Check: Will your electricity connection be disconnected if you do not update your bill?

Many customers have been receiving letters allegedly by the ministry of power urging them to update their electricity bills immediately in order to avoid disconnection.

The letters ask consumers to call on a particular number and speak with a representative in order to avoid disconnection. It also warns the consumer that their power connections will be cut by tonight, in case they fail to update their bill.

"Dear consumer, Your electricity power connection will be disconnected tonight 09:00 pm. Because your previous month bill has not updated, please immediately call our electricity officer Mr Devesh Joshi....To update your bill call our electricity helpline number," read the letter.

PIB Fact Check has however clarified that the letter is fake. The ministry of power has issued no such letter, it also said.

"Ministry of power has not issued this letter," PIB Fact Check said while further warning consumers to be cautious while sharing their personal and financial information.

This is yet another mechanism that is being used to dupe people and siphon off money from their accounts. It is important that you double check the information before you share any information. Public authorities have been regularly urging authorities not to share their personal data like account numbers, OTPs, passwords and so on. If one shares such details, it becomes easy for scammers to phish out information and siphon off your money.

In case you become a victim of cybercrime, then you need to file an FIR with the cybercrime police. You can also dial the National Cyber Crime Reporting Helpline Number-1930 to register any complaint about cyber fraud.

You can also file a complaint online on www.cybercrime.gov.in. Click on file a complaint and then tap on report other cybercrime button. Enter the required details including name, email, phone number etc. You will receive an OTP on your registered mobile number, following which you can enter details about your complaint.